Systems rotary printing apparatus



March 22, 1966 R. J. CRISSY SYSTEMS ROTARY PRINTING APPARATUS 9 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 19, 1962 INVE ROBERT J. CRISSY H m l his ATTORNEYS March 22, 1966 R. J. cRlssY 3,241,484

SYSTEMS ROTARY PRINTING APPARATUS Filed June 19, 1962 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. ROBERT J. CRISSY his ATTORNEYS March 22, 1966 R. J. CRISSY 3,241,484

SYSTEMS ROTARY PRINTING APPARATUS Filed June 19, 1962 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 72 5 FIG: 3

nmllr 26a IZUa INVENTOR. ROBERT J. CRISSY his ATTORNEYS March 22, 1966 J, c ssy 3,241,484

SYSTEMS ROTARY PRINTING APPARATUS Filed June 19, 1962 9 Sheets-Sheet 4.

FIG 4 an e INVENTOR. ROBERT J. CRISSY' BY qg d jmwhmk his ATTORNEYS March 22, 1966 R. J. CRISSY 3,241,484

SYSTEMS ROTARY PRINTING APPARATUS Filed June 19, 1962 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR. ROBERT J. GRISSY his ATTORNEYS March 22, 1966 R. J. cRlssY 3,241,484

SYSTEMS ROTARY PRINTING APPARATUS Filed June 19, 1962 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 C mm RY m m www Q NM ms .W m EN N M w x m m 0 T.M 2N W i, m w M; WNW is: m II B s fl 0 m I. .Illll I R w A {I M 1 6 mm\ IHI @Afi g S m mm 1 LrIH/ I m K Q a a. QQ U i Mm J- $7 Q & H E E N2. 2 W 3 *UQQ. AK) l/ 2 .w. WWI. Hun? dmr\ 0 E 5 E m vm E & m m 6? March 22, 1966 R. J. CRISSY SYSTEMS ROTARY PRINTING APPARATUS 9 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed June 19, 1962 INVENTOR. ROBERT J. CRISSY 5/ CLO! 0 gd71fl- ATTORNEYS his a g A 0. s $3:

$3 Q RE \3 R. J. cRissY 3,241,484 SYSTEMS ROTARY PRINTING APPARATUS 9 Sheets-Sheet B M ML ////l 7/////////,

March 22, 1966 Filed June 19, 1962 INVENTOR, ROBERT J. CRISSY BY /wfiw lfiunL his ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,241,484 SYSTEMS ROTARY PRINTING APPARATUS Robert J. Crissy, 23 Lee Drive, West Caldwell, NJ. Filed June 19, 1962, Ser. No. 203,494 16 Claims. (Cl. 101132.5)

This invention relates to improvements in duplicating apparatus and methods which are particularly applicable to business systems.

The task of duplicating complete sets of multiple page data using currently available methods and apparatus is both burdensome and time consuming. One conventional method involves duplicating on a spirit, stencil or offset machine the desired number of copies of each master page, an operation which may require preparation of special masters and frequent changing of the masters after the desired number of copies of each has been duplicated, andthen collating the duplicated pages into complete sets. It is apparent that this job is particularly onerous where only one, two or a few duplicate sets is desired, or where the information on the master forms is subject to change, or where the information is to be copied in whole or in part, or where certain additional information is to be repeated on the duplicated forms. In such conventional methods, collating errors result in incomplete sets of the information to be duplicated. Moreover, incomplete sets of the information to be duplicated and consequent waste may be caused by overruns or shortages of particular pages.

The novel duplicating apparatus and method of the present invention are extremely versatile and can be adapted to simplify many business operations, including, inter alia, processing, record making, notice making, manifesting, addressing and billing operations. Moreover, the present invention eliminates collating of the duplicated forms and the errors introduced in the collating operation, shortage and overrun-waste which make for incomplete sets of the multiple page data to be duplicated, decollating operations, disposal of carbon paper, and other problems associated with conventional methods and apparatus.

In the novel duplicating apparatus and method of the present invention, information is recorded on master forms in positive image on one side and against a backup sheet or plate, for example, of the type used in the hectograph process, which back-up sheet or plate produces the information on the reverse sides of the master forms in mirror image impressions capable of being surface activated by a solvent. These master forms conveniently serve as original records which can be kept in active files for ready reference. The blank or copy forms, preferably in web form, are coated with a liquid solvent on the sides on which the information from the master forms is to be duplicated and then successively brought into registered contact with the backs of successive master forms. When paired blank and master forms are brought into registered contact, the solvent carried by the blank form activates the surface of the mirror image impressions on the back of the master form and prints them in positive image on the blank form. After the duplicating operation, the master forms are collected and stacked at one station in their original sequence, and the web of copy forms is collected and stacked at another station in the same sequence as the master forms. The copy forms can be separated before stacking or, if preferred, they can be stacked in accordion fashion. At the completion of the operation, a complete duplicate set devoid of shortages or extras is available for immediate use. If additional duplicate sets are desired, the operation can be repeated many times using the same master forms.

The duplicating apparatus of the present invention includes a pair of rotatable cylinders in tangential relationship forming a printing couple, means to feed the master forms in sequence from a storage magazine through the printing couple and then to a stacking station where they are arranged in their original sequence irrespective of whether they are handled in the machine individually or in web form, means to feed the blank forms, preferably connected in the form of a web or chain by weakened tear lines, through the printing couple, means for applying a liquid solvent to the sides of the blank forms onto which the information is to be duplicated, means for separating the duplicated forms (which can be by-passed if separation is not desired), and means for stacking the duplicate forms (whether separated or not) in the same sequence as the master forms.

The present invention includes many additional features and components which are novel either in themselves or in combination. For example, although the apparatus includes means for handling the master forms in a web, the invention also includes a novel sheet feeding assembly which can be detachably connected to the machine if it is desired to convert it to a machine which handles individual master forms. Also, the present invention includes novel means for positively feeding and guiding both the blank forms and the master forms to insure that they are brought together in the printing couple in the desired registration. In the event that the apparatus is converted from one in which the master forms are fed in web form instead of individually, the present invention includes a novel conveyor assembly which can be detachably connected to the machine for handling the master forms after the duplicating operation and insuring that they are brought into the desired overlapping relationship so that they will be stacked in the same sequence that they were in when introduced into the apparatus.

Other ancillary features of the machine include imprinting means for the duplicate or copy forms on the downstream side of the printing couple and before the bursting operation, a novel solvent applying system, a novel arrangement for supporting the solvent applying system in order to provide access to certain parts of the machine, novel means for facilitating threading the web of blank forms through the apparatus, and various and other sundry features and components which will be described below in more detail.

For a more complete understanding of the present invention, reference should be made to the detailed description which follows, and to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of the apparatus of the present invention showing the apparatus set up to handle the master forms connected in web form;

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the machine shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an end elevation partly in section with certain parts broken away;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 44 of FIGURE 2 looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary view of FIGURE 4 with certain of the parts shown in a different position;

FIGURE 6 is a side elevation in crosssection of the apparatus set up to handle individual master forms;

FIGURE 7 is a sectional view taken along the line 77 of FIGURE 6 looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 8 is a perspective view of certain of the apparatus shown in FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 9 is a face view of a typical master form containing the information to be duplicated;

FIGURE 10 is a face view of another type of master form before the information to be duplicated has been recorded thereon;

FIGURE 11 is a view of one side of a typical copy form duplicated from the master form shown in FIGURE 9; and

FIGURE 12 is a view of the reverse side of the master form shown in FIGURE 9.

In the embodiment of the systems machine of the present invention Shown in FIGURES 1 through 5 of the drawings, information recorded on a web a of master forms is duplicated on a web b of blank forms. The master forms a, shown in FIGURE 9, are initially printed in a desired layout to suit the particular use of the form and the type of information to be recorded thereon. The information recorded thereon for later duplication on the copy forms [2 is written or typed on the face side while the web is backed against a waxy, gelatinous 0r greasy surface, for example an aniline dye impregnated wax coated sheet of the type used in the hecto-graph process, which, as shown in FIGURE 12, produces the information on the reverse side of the master form in mirror image. The face sides of the master webs thus are records to which reference can be made to check the information thereon, and the back sides are printing plates which duplicale the information when the surfaces of the mirror image impressions thereon are activated by a liquid solvent therefor, such as alcohol in the case of impressions made by hectograph carbons. More specifically, when the blank or copy forms I) are coated with the liquid solvent and then brought into pressure contact with the backs of the master forms a. the information in mirror image on the backs of the master forms will be duplicated in positive image on the solvent coated sides of the blank or copy forms.

The master forms a are preferably made of relatively stiff, glossy paper stock so that they will have a relatively long life. They can, of course, be used numerous times in duplicating the information recorded thereon. The blank or copy forms b can be of the same or lighter weight stock and need not be stiff or glossy. The forms a and b are available folded in zig-zag or accordion fashion at the weakened lines which divide the webs into individual cards or sheets.

In the web a of master forms shown in FIGURE 9, the individual master forms are defined by perforated or weakened transverse lines c which are equally spaced along the web. The web a also has a series of perforations d spaced equally along boih edges of the web which, as will be explained below, serve to positively advance the web and facilitate registration of the forms of the web a with the forms of the web b as they are fed through the systems machine of the present invention.

The web b, shown in FIGURE 11, also contains a series of perforations e spaced along both edges of the web, and it too is subdivided into a plurality of individual sheets or cards connected seriatim by the perforated or weakened lines 1 which are spaced along and extend transversely of the web. The form b, in the particular example illustrated in FIGURE 11, has heavily lined or dark areas g and h printed thereon which renders the information duplicated on these areas invisible, or at least not clearly visible, to show how the present invention can be used to duplicate only selecled information recorded on the master forms. Obviously the present invention can be employed to duplicate all of the information recorded in mirror image on the master forms by using blank forms without these dark areas.

The web a shown in FIGURE shows a different type of master form from that shown in FIGURES 9 and 12, and it is shown merely to illustrate that the systems machine of the present invention can be used for a great many different purposes and with various types of forms. The form a is similar to the form a in that it has a plurality of perforations d along both edges for positive feeding and registration purposes, but is unlike the form a in that it contains transverse weakened lines 0 which are spaced apart at half the spacing between the weakened lines 0 of the web a.

One application of the systems machine of the present invention can be readily described by reference to FIG- URE 1 of the drawings. In this particular set up, the web a of master forms containing the information to be duplicated on the web [1 of blank or copy forms is folded in accordion fashion and stored in a magazine 10. The web a is fed from the magazine 10 across a series of guide wheels 11, underneath another series of guide wheels 12 and between a pair of cylinders 13 and 14 which are mounted in side-by-side tangential relationship between a pair of main side frames A. The web a is then fed from the bite between the cylinders 13 and 14 downwardly along a sloped guide surface 15 and back to a storage magazine 16 which is in side-by-side relationship with the magazine 10. Because the web tends to fold more readily along the weakened lines 0 in one direction than in the opposite direction, the Web a automatically folds itself in accordion fashion within the magazine 16.

The web I; of blank forms is stored in accordion fashion within a magazine 17 at the opposite end of the machine. The web b is fed upwardly over a plurality of guide wheels 18 supported on a shaft between a pair of supports 19 upstanding from the side frames A. The web b is then fed between the cylinder 13 and a system, generally designated 20, which coats the outer surface of the web 11 with a liquid solvent, such as alcohol. The web b then passes through the bite between the cylinders 13 and 14, and the pressure exerted between the cylinders 13 and 114 presses together the outer surface of the web b (or, in other words, the faces of the blank forms) and the outer surface of the web a (or, in other words, the backs of the master forms), causing the liquid solvent on the outer surface on the web b to activate the mirror image impressions recorded on the outer surface of the Web a and duplicating the information in positive form on the outer surface of the web b. The web [2 travels downwardly from the bite between the cylinders 13 and 14, passes around a cylinder 21, and is guided upwardly above a bursting mechanism which includes a pair of upper gripping rolls 22 in side-by-side tangential relation ship and a pair of lower bursting rolls 23 in side-by-side relationship. The upper gripping rolls 22 cooperate with the lower bursting rolls by gripping between them one of the copy forms fed between them while the preceding form is advanced at a higher speed to separate the preceding form from the web along the weakened line 1 which joins them. The individual cards or sheets drop from the bursting rolls 23 onto a plurality of conveyor belts, the upper spans of which travel along the top of a downwardly inclined platform 24 on which they are stacked against a yielding end support 25 supported on the platform and having slots in the base thereof for the free passage of the conveyor. More specifically, as each card or sheet drops onto the receiving end of the platform 24, it is immediately pushed downwardly and to the left, as viewed in FIGURE 1, by rotary pushers 26 which make room for the next card or sheet. The copy or duplicated forms thus are stacked in the same sequence as the master forms, so that when the entire web a has been fed through the apparatus a complete set of individual duplicates in the desired sequence is produced without any collating operation. Moreover, additional sets of duplicates can be made from the same web of master forms immediately or after additional information is recorded thereon.

Turning now to a more detailed description of the machine, the Various components thereof are mounted between the pair of side frames A and above a base B which is shown in FIGURE 1. The guide wheels 11 and 12, for example which guide the web a toward the cylinder 1 are rotatably supported on shafts 30 and 31, respectively. The shafts 30 and 31, in turn, are supported between a pair of brackets 32 which are bolted to the side frames A of the machine. Downstream of the guide wheels 12 the Web passes between a lower guide plate 33 and an upper guide bar 34. The lower guide plate 33 extends transversely between the side frames A of the machine, and the guide bar 34 is supported above the guide plate 33 by side guides 35 (see FIGURE 4) for the web a.

The cylinders 13 and 14 are rotatably supported between the side frames A of the machine by transverse shafts 36 and 37, respectively. The cylinder 13 carries a pair of gears 38, one at each end thereof, which mesh with gears 39 at opposite ends of the cylinder 14. The cylinder 13 carries a plurality of pins 40 near both ends thereof which pins engage the perforations e in the web; the cylinder 14 also carries a plurality of pins 41 which engage the perforations d in the web a. The registering pins 40 and 41 of the two cylinders assure that the webs are positively driven without slippage so as to maintain perfect registration to each other. This perfect registration can be assured by the manual adjustment of the cylinder 14 relative to the gears 39 thereof by loosening the screws 43 (see FIGURE 1), rotating the wheel 44 which moves the cylinder 14 relative to the gears 33 and the cylinder 13 and then tightening the screws 43. In this connection, it should be mentioned that the pins 40 and 41 are carried in recesses 46 of their respective cylinders, and the pins of the two cylinders are arranged in offset relationship with respect to each other, so that the pins of one cylinder will be accommodated Within the recess of the other cylinder during the operation of the machine. The pins 40 and 41, however, are high enough to insure engagement with the perforations in the respective webs.

A guide plate 48 (see FIGURE 4) atfixed to a transverse supporting member 43 insures that the leading edge of the web a will be deflected around the cylinder 14 and engaged by the pins 41 carried by the cylinder 14 which is especially important when the web a is being threaded through the machine. As the web a passes between the cylinders 13 and 14 and in contact with the web b the pressure between the surfaces of the cylinders insures that the webs are brought together in the proper pressure engagement to duplicate in clear sharp image the information from the web a to the web b. Directly beneath the bite of the cylinders 13 and 14, a wedgeshaped separator 50 insures that the webs a and b will be deflected away from each other, the web a passing downwardly, as described above, along the downwardly inclined guiding surface 15 to the magazine 16.

The outer surface of the cylinder 13 carries a blanket 13a which is preferably an outer Teflon sheet wrapped around a resilient rubber blanket. This affords the necessary slippage to the web to insure that the pins have complete control over the feed of the web while at the same time providing the necessary resilient backing. The outer surface 14a of the cylinder 14 is preferably metal, such as aluminum, to dissipate static electricity.

Tracing now the path of travel of the web I), after passing between a curved lower guide plate 51 supported between the side walls A of the machine and an upper guide plate 52 spaced above the guide plate 51, the web passes between the upper surface of the cylinder 13 and a rotating roller 53 of the liquid solvent system 20 which applies the solvent to the web [2. The liquid solvent is stored within a bottle 54 which lies within a trough 55 supported between the side frames of the machine by the cross member 49. The bottle 54 is designed to maintain a constant level in the trough. The bottom of the trough communicates with a semi-cylindrical casing 50 through a passage 57. The open portion of the casing 56 is adapted to receive a loop of a band-shaped wick 58. The wick 58 also loops around and is affixed to a bar 59 by a strip 60 which is held to the bar 59 by a plurality of screws or bolts 61 which pass through the wick and threadably engage the bar 59. The outer surface of the wick 58 is in engagement with the roller 53 and supplies the liquid to the outer surface of the roller which, in turn, applies it to the outer faces of the blank forms fed between the roller and the cylinder 13. The roller 53, incidentally, carries a gear 62 at one end thereof which meshes with one of the gears 38 carried by the cylinder 13. The roller 53, therefore, is driven continuously as it applies the liquid solvent to the outer surface of the web b.

The roller 53 is supported at its opposite ends between a pair of frames 65 which as shown in FIGURE 5, are pivoted to the side frames A of the machine by pins 66. The bar 59 to which the wick is affixed is supported at opposite ends by members 68 which are each adjustably mounted to frames 69. The frames 69 are pivoted to the respective side frames A of the machine by the pins 66 independently of the frames 65. Thus, the frames 65 and 69 can be raised either as a unit (as shown in FIGURE 5) or separately raised to provide access to the solvent applying system and the upper end of the cylinder 13. A spring 70 anchored at one end to the side frame A of the machine and at the opposite end to the frame 69 holds the frame 69 in raised or open position. A similar spring 71 (see FIGURE 2) anchored to one end to the side wall A of the machine and at the opposite end to the frame 65 maintains the frame 65 in its raised or open position.

The pivotal frames 65 are locked in operative positions by locks 72 which are rotatably supported in the side walls A of the machines. Each of the locks, as shown in FIGURE 5, has a circular groove 72a formed on the inner face of the lock between an inner hub 72b and a circular outer rail 72c concentric with and spaced apart from the hub 72b. The outer rail 72 has an opening 72d therein which, when the corresponding frame is in its operative position in engagement with a part of the corresponding side frame A, receives a pin 74 (see FIGURE 2) which projects laterally from the opposite surface of the pivotal frame 65. When the pins 74 of the frames 65 are introduced into the grooves 72a of the respective locks 72 and the locks are rotated, the pins 74 become trapped in the grooves, locking the frames 65 in operative positions. In addition, each of the frames 65 carries a rotatable lock 75 which cooperates with a pin 76 which projects laterally from the adjacent pivotal frame 69 for locking the frame 69 to the frame 65. The locks 72 and 75 have only a small portion of their outer peripheries exposed. However, the outer peripheries thereof are serrated to facilitate rotating them between open and locked positions.

The web b coated with the liquid solvent by the roller 53 passes between the cylinders 13 and 14 in pressure engagement with the web to duplicate information on each master form onto a corresponding blank or copy form. As the web 12 passes from the printing couple, it is stripped from the cylinder 13 by upwardly disposed stripping blades 79 and guided between guides 77 and 78 toward and around the bottom .of the cylinder 21. A curved guide 80 is disposed immediately below the cylinder 21 to guide the web I), especially the leading edge thereof, around the bottom of the cylinder 21 and then upwardly between a pair of inclined guides 81 and 82. The guide plate 80 has a large aperture 80a which provides access for an imprinting cylinder 83, shown in phantom lines in FIGURE 4, to the duplicated forms. The imprinting cylinder 83 and its inking system are built into a separate frame which can be attached and detached from the side frames A of the machine. The imprinting cylinder 83 is used in instances where it is desired to repeat in formation on each of the successive forms of the web 12. When the imprinting cylinder and its inking system are attached in place the outer periphery of the cylinder 21 serves as an impression surface for the imprinting cylinder.

An unexpected advantage of locating the imprinting means immediately downstream of the printing couple is that the surfaces of the web b at this point still retains traces of the liquid solvent applied thereto by the roller 53. The small amount of solvent picked up by the inprinting cylinder 83 tends to prevent the ink supply for the imprinting cylinder from drying up and not only improves the quality of the imprint on the forms but requires less attention and fewer ink replenishing operations by the operator.

When the Web b emerges from the upper ends of the upwardly inclined guides 81 and 32, it can be directed through the bursting mechanism or fed directly to a magazine where the forms are stacked in accordion fashion. If the web is to be burst, it is deflected by a guide 84- between the pair of rolls 22. having surfaces which grip one form of the web therebetween while the lower pair of bursting rolls 23 separates the preceding form therefrom along the weakened transverse line which separates them. A pair of guides 85 and 36 are disposed between the gripping rolls 22 and the bursting rolls 23. The gripping roll 22 beneath the guide plate 84 has a plurality of pins (not shown) arranged in similar fashion to the pins 4t 41 of the cylinders 13 and 14, whereas the other roll has a raised gripping portion. The bursting or separation of the forms is accomplished by the raised surfaces 23a of the bursting rollers. Because the linear velocity of the raised surfaces 23a of the bursting rollers 23 is somewhat greater than the linear velocity of the outer surfaces of the upper gripping rollers 22, the bursting rollers separate the web along its weakened line and advance the separated form downwardly in front of an upstanding plate and toward the upper surface of the platform 24 onto the moving cylinder belts 27. The timing of the rollers 22 and the rollers 23 is such that the leading edge of the succeeding form is introduced between the low portions of the rollers 23.

The gripping rollers 22, the guide plates 85 and 86, and the bursting rollers 23 are all supported between a pair of frames 88 which are aflixed to the inner surfaces of the side frames A of the machine. The rollers 22 each carry meshing gears 89 (see FIGURES 3 and 4) so that they travel in unison in opposite directions. Similarly, the bursting rollers 23 each carry meshing gears 90 so that they too travel in unison in opposite directions.

The guide plate 85, as best shown in FIGURE 4 carries a pair of brackets 92 which support between them a roller 93 driven by a belt 94 from one of the bursting rollers 23. The roller 93 is on one side of the path of travel of the web b, and on the opposite side thereof an idler roller 95 is supported between members 96 for movement into and out of engagement with the web under the control of the handle 97. The guide plates 81 and 82 contain openings which permit the rollers 93 and 95 to engage and grip the web b between them as it moves upwardly between the guide plates 81 and 32. Normally the idler roller 95 is shifted to its operative position only during the threading of the web 11 through the machine, and at other times it is in its inoperative position out of contact with the web.

As explained above, the form separated from the web is dropped on to the platform 24 in front of the guide plate 87 containing a plurality of apertures 87a. The rotary device 26 behind the plate 87 carries a plurality of outwardly projecting pusher elements 26a which engage the forms at acute angles while the pusher elements and the forms are both traveling downwardly, so that they not only push away the last form in the stack from the plate 87 to make room for the next form behind it, but they also help settle the forms on the platform 24. The individual cards or sheets are thus stacked in side-by-side relationship on the inclined platform 24'; against the yielding end support 25 in precisely the same order in which they are printed.

Turning now to the drive system, all of the parts of the machine are driven by a motor 100, shown in FIGURE 3, through a reduction gear system 161 and a clutch 102. The driven side of the clutch 102 drives a shaft 103 which carries a pair of sprocket wheels 1M and 1115 thereon. The sprocket 1G4 drives a chain 1% which, as best shown in FIGURE 4, passes around a sprocket 107, a sprocket 1% carried on the shaft which supports the cylinder 21, a sprocket 1(19 mounted on a shaft 118 that carries a gear 111 which drives the cylinder 13, a sprocket 112 carried by the rotatable pusher 26 and finally the drive sprocket 104. The gear 111 meshes with one of the gears 38 of the cylinder 13, and, as described above, the gears 38 of the cylinder mesh with the gears 39 of the cylinder 14, thus driving the cylinder 14. Also, as described above, the solvent applying roller 53 is driven by one of the gears 38 of the cylinder 13. As best shown in FIGURE 3, the gear 111 also engages an idler gear 113 which meshes with a gear 114 carried by one of the gripping rollers 22 and a gear 115 carried by one of the bursting rollers 23.

The conveyor belts 27 are guided around a plurality of pulleys 117 at one end and a plurality of pulleys 118 at the opposite end. The pulleys 117 are all mounted on a shaft 119 which is driven through a clutch 12d manually engaged and disengaged by an actuator 1211a. The shaft 119 is driven through a drive mechanism which includes a chain 121, a shaft 122, a gear reduction system 123, a sprocket 124 and a chain 125 connecting the drive sprocket 1135 and the drive sprocket 125.

A hand wheel 116 is afiixed to the drive gear 111 to make it possible to turn over the cylinders 13 and 14 by hand.

A control box C is mounted to one of the side frames A of the machine. The control box C includes, inter alia, an on-otf switch for the drive motor 10(1, a rheostat for controlling the speed of the machine, and the various safety pilot lights which assure the operator that the machine is functioning properly.

Although the web form is preferred for both the master forms and the blank forms because there is less chance that one of the forms will be skipped due to failure of a sheet feeding mechanism, nevertheless, the business system may be such that it may be preferred to record the information on separate master forms. In the embodiment of the systems machine shown in FIGURES 6 through 8, the master forms a containing the information to be duplicated on the web I) are stacked in a feeder assembly, generally designated D, from which they are fed individually to the cylinders 13 and 14. In this embodiment of the machine, the web b is handled in precisely the same manner and by the same components as in the embodiment described above in connection with FIGURES 1 through 5 of the machine. Gbviously, however, the cards or sheets which make up the web I) could be fed individually by feeding means similar to the feeding means D about to be described, notwithstanding the fact that the web form is preferred.

The systems machine described in connection with FIGURES 1 through 5 of the drawings can be converted from one in which the master forms are fed in web form to the embodiment shown in FIGURES 6 through 8 in which the master forms are fed individually by removing the brackets 22 and the guide wheels 11 and 12 supported thereby and substituting in its place the feeding assembly D and a conveyor assembly, generally designated E, which handles and stacks the cards a after the duplicating operation, along with certain other minor changes which will be obvious from the description which follows.

The feeding assembly D includes a plurality of components supported between a pair of side frames which are adapted to be detachably connected to the side frames A of the machine. The master forms a are stacked in a magazine or hopper defined by a bottom plate 131, a

pair of side walls 132 spaced inwardly from the side walls 130 to enclose the operating components of the feeding assembly D and either of two rear walls 133 or 134. The hopper is designed to handle the larger master forms, shown in FIGURE 9 defined between the transverse weakened lines 0, or the half size master forms, shown in FIGURE defined between the weakened lines 0. The master forms a" shown stacked in the hopper in FIGURE 6 are of the smaller size, and accordingly the detachable back wall members 133 are fastened to and spaced apart from the back wall members 134 by connecting posts 135.

A carriage, generally designated 137, which carries a plurality of suction heads 138 is supported for horizontal reciprocation along stationary tracks 139. The carriage 137, as best shown in FIGURE 8, includes a pair of side members 141) each equipped with a pair of wheels 141 which are in rolling engagement with the corresponding track 139, a cross bar 141' connecting the side members 140, and a fluid-tight tube 142 pivotally supported at opposite ends in the side wall members. The suction heads 138 are integrally formed as part of the pivotally mounted tube 142.

Horizontal reciprocation is imparted to each side of the carriage 137 by a cam 144 fixed to a driven shaft 145 accommodated between the side walls 130 and 132 of the feeding assembly D, as best shown in FIGURE 8. If reference is made to FIGURE 7, the drive shafts 145 and cams 144 mounted thereon on both sides of the feeding assembly can be observed. The cams 145 act against cam followers 152 carried by the carriage. The shafts 145 also support cams 146 thereon which impart pivotal motion to the tube 142 to raise and lower the suction heads 133 toward and away from the lowermost form in the hopper. This pivotal motion is imparted to the suction heads by the cams 146 through downwardly extending arms 148, best shown in FIGURE 6, each carrying a cam follower 149. When the carriage 137 is beneath the hopper at its extreme position to the right, as viewed in FIGURE 6, the raised parts of the cams 146 engage the cam followers 149, thereby rocking the tube 142 and lifting the suction heads into engagement with the lowermost form within the hopper. Toward this end, the bottom plate 131 of the hopper is cut away, as best shown in FIGURE 7, to permit the suction heads to be raised into engagement with the bottom form of the hopper. The arms 148 are normally urged by springs 150 (see FIGURE 7) to move the suction heads to their lowermost position out of contact with the bottom form in the hopper. However, the suction between the suc tion heads and the lowermost form holds the suction heads in engagement with the form while the carriage advances the master form gripped by the suction heads between the cylinder 14 and a battery of friction wheels 154 when the form is picked up and positively advanced by the pins 41 of the cylinder 14. As soon as the suction is broken, the springs 150 pull the suction heads out of contact with the form and maintain them in their in operative lowermost positions while the same springs return the carriage to the position underneath the hopper.

The carriage 137 also carries a pair of upstanding pins 138, one on each side of the carriage, to engage perforations in the sides of the master form near the front edge and insure positive advance of the form. The tops of these pins slope downwardly and rearwardly to insure that they grip the form and to facilitate transfer of the form to the pins 41 of the cylinder 14.

Suction is supplied to the suction heads 138 from a suction source (not shown) through a conduit 155, a manifold 156 and a pair of conduits 157 which communicate with the opposite ends of the hollow tube 142. Each of the suction heads contains a recess or cavity 133a in the upper surface thereof which communicates with the hollow interior of the tube 142 through a passage 158 (see FIGURE 8). Another pair of conduits 159 connects the manifold 156 with the lower downwardly depending stems of tubes 161) which, as best shown in FIGURE 7, communicate with a cluster of restricted openings 161 in the bottom plate 131 of the hopper. When the lowermost form a" in the hopper is gripped by the suction heads 13% and the leading edge pulled down to pass underneath the gate 191 the suction through the restricted openings 161 grips the rear end of the master form so that it can be deflected by the bend in the plate 136. are removed to set up the hopper for the larger size master forms, the conduits 159 are connected instead to an alternate pair of downwardly projecting stems 162., each of which communicates with a cluster of restricted openings 163 at the rear of the hopper.

The suction to the suction heads 138 is controlled by a valve 165 within each of the suction heads. The valves 165 are slidably accommodated within bores of the suction heads intermediate the passage 158 and the recess 138a. They are connected in tandem by a. rod 166 which accommodates a spring 167 thereon interposed between one of the suction heads and a spring retaining disc 168 afiixed to the rod 166. The spring 167 normally urges the rod 166 to a position in which the valves 165 are closed. The rod 166, however, is controlled by actuating means about to be described which opens the valves and establishes communication between the suction source and the suction heads.

The actuating means for the valve actuating rod 166 is accommodated between the walls and 132 at one side of the feeding assembly D. The actuating means, as best shown in FIGURE 8, includes a slide 169 which rides along the upper edge 139a of the plate in which the track 139 is formed. The upper end of the slide 169 is slotted to receive the lower edge of a rail 17% supported from a rock shaft 171. The rail 170 is connected at one end to the rock shaft by an upstanding arm 170a and at the opposite end by a block 172. The rock shaft 171 is mounted in bearings 173 of brackets 174 affixed to one of the side walls 130. The rail 170 is acted on by a compressed spring 175 which adds to the force exerted by the spring 167 to urge the valves toward their open positions. The rail 170, however, is adapted to be rocked in the opposite position by a cam 176 affixed to the driven shaft 145. The upper periphery of the cam 176 engages a cam follower 177 which is rotatably mounted on the end of a shaft 178 carried by the block 172. As a high portion of the cam 176 engages the cam follower 177, the rail and its supporting rock shaft 171 are rocked against the forces exerted by the springs 167 and and displace the rod 166 longitudinally to move the valves 165 to their open positions.

As the carriage travels from the position in which the suction heads grip a master form to the position in which the suction heads release the master form to the positive drive of the cylinder 14, the slide 161 travels along the valve actuating rail 170 while coupled thereto at all times. When the carriage 137 is in its position beneath the hopper and the suction heads 138 are raised into engagement with the bottom side of the lowermost form in the stack, the valves 165 are open to permit the suction heads to grip the master form and carry it toward the cylinder 14. When the master form has been delivered to the position at which it is to be released from the suction heads, the low portion of the cam permits the springs 167 and 175 to close the valves so that the suction heads will drop to their lowered positions under the influence of the springs 150 while the springs return the carriage 137 to position to pick up the next master form in the stack.

Turning now to the drive means for each of the driven shafts 145, each of the shafts 145 carries a gear 180 'thereon which is driven through an idler gear 181 mounted on a shaft 182 by a gear 183. The gears 133 In the event that the back walls 133 1 1 at both sides of the feeding unit are mounted on a common shaft 184. As best shown in FIGURE 7, a gear 187 and its supporting shaft 188 are accommodated between the side walls 130 and 132 of the feeding assembly on the side opposite the valve actuating mechanism 17d, and the gear 187 drives the gear 181 at the same side of the feeding unit, thereby driving the gears 180, 181 and 183 at both sides of the feeding assembly. The shaft 188 also carries a gear 189 which is adapted to mesh with one of the gears 39 of the cylinder 14. Thus, all of the various operating components of the feeding unit D are driven from the main drive motor 1% of the machine.

The master forms fed one at a time from the hopper by the suction heads 133 pass beneath a gate 190, the flower edge of which is spaced above the plate 131 to provide sufiicient clearance for the form. The gate 190 is adjustably supported at opposite ends to brackets mounted to the inner sides of the walls 132. The gate 1% is sloped slightly to form an acute angle with the upstream side of the guide plate 131 so that the master form will readily pass thereunder. If for any reason the form is unable to pass beneath the gate 190, it is an indication that it was not properly gripped by the suction heads, and the break in suction resulting from the separation of the form from the suction heads will alert the operator to the fact that the machine is not functioning properly.

As explained above, a plurality of friction wheels 154 are mounted above the cylinder 14 and are spring urged toward the cylinder to insure that the forms fed thereto are maintained in contact with the cylinders and picked up by the pins 41 thereof. There are three pairs of the friction wheels 154- spaced transversely of the cylinder 14 beneath a transverse bar 192 supported between the side frames 13% of the feeding assembly. The bar 192 has afiixed thereto three spaced apart collars 1%, each having a groove 19 therein to receive opposite edges of a slotted bracket 195. The brackets 195 each have two friction wheels mounted thereto, one in advance of the other in substantially the same plane. As best shown in FIGURE 6, the brackets each contain an upstanding finger 195a within the slot which finger supports a compressed spring 197 thereon interposed between the bracket and the bar 192 to urge the friction wheels against the outer surface of the cylinder 14. The lower edges of the brackets 195 are curved in complementary fashion to the outer surfaces of the cylinder 14 with a relatively small clearance and serve as guides to keep the forms in engagement with the pins 41 while the form is intro duced between the cylinders 13 and 14.

The duplicating operation in the machine shown in FIGURES 6 through 8 is precisely the same as in the machine described in connection with FTGURES 1 through 5. As the form emerges from the bite between the cylinders 13 and 14, it is carried by the conveyor assembly E and stacked against a plate 206 at the end of the conveyor system. Successive forms are fed to the bottom of the stack. Thus, when the forms stacked at the end of the conveyor system E are lifted out and inverted, they are in precisely the same order that they were when introduced into the feeding unit D.

The components of the conveyor system E are mounted between a pir of side frames 201 which are connected in a unitary assembly by a plurality of cross bars 202. The frames 2111 are detachably connected to the side frames A of the machine. Toward this end, the lower edges of the side frames A immediately beneath the cylinder 14 are provided with downwardly depending pins 203 which engage holes in the upper edges of the side frames 201 of the conveyor system. The outer surfaces of both side frames A carry hinged clamps 204 which are spring urged to closed positions around lateral grips 205 of the side frames 2111. The pins 2193 align the side frames 201 in proper relation to the side frames A, and the clamps 204 detachably lock the conveyor system in place. The clamp described above is a conventional device, and obvionsly any other suitable clamp can be used for this purpose.

As the master forms emerge from the bite between the cylinders 13 and 14 they pass between a pair of guides 207 and 203 which direct them into the nip between a series of upper friction wheels 209 mounted on a shaft 210 and a series of lower friction wheels 211 carried by a roller 212. The upper guide 2117 is a plate having slots therein to accommodate the friction wheels 209 and permit them to engage the upper surface of the master forms. The plate 207 is fastened to a supporting bar which is affixed at one end to one of the side walls 201. The lower guide 208 is formed by a plurality of rigid strips which extend between the friction wheels 211 and are anchored to a series of rods 219 which are aifixed at their ends to one of the side walls 2111.

The friction wheels 201 211 advance the form to a series of upper friction wheels 213 carried by a roller 214 and a series of lower friction wheels 215 carried by a roller 216. From the friction wheel-s 213 and 215 the form is advanced to the nip between an upper roller 220 and the receiving end of a plurality of conveyor belts 221 which are guided around a roller 223. The spacing from the nip between the roller 2211 and the conveyor belts 221 to the nip between the friction wheels 213 and 215 is approximately equal or slightly greater than the distance between the leading and trailing edges of the form (1". Also, the linear velocity of the form through the nip between the roller 2211 and the conveyor belts 221 is slightly less than the linear velocity of the outer ends of a series of blades 222 carried by the roller 214, permitting the blades 222 to engage and lift the trailing end of the form a whise leading edge is gripped or about to be gripped in the nip between the roller 221 and the conveyor belts 221. In addition, the linear velocity imparted to the form between the friction wheels 269, 211 and 213, 215 is also slightly greater than the linear velocity of the form gripped between the roller 22d and the conveyor belts 221 to insure that the leading edge of the succeeding form advanced by the friction wheels 2% and 211 will be advanced to a position beneath the trailing edge of the preceding form raised by the blades 222.

The feeding system described above arranges successive master forms in overlapping relationship with the trailing edge of one disposed above the leading edge of the next. The overlapped forms are carried along the upper spans of the conveyor belts 221 between a pair of rollers 224, along an inclined span of the conveyor belts 221 between the rollers 22 1 and the upper surface of a guide roller 225 over which the conveyor belts pass, and then along the downwardly sloped span of the conveyor belts between the roller 225 and the roller 226 on which downwardly sloped span the master forms are stacked against the plate 2%. As explained above, the incoming forms are fed to the bottom of the stack so that when the stack is removed and inverted, the forms are in their origin-a1 sequence.

The components of the conveyor system E are driven by the large gear 18-7 of the feeding system D. The lower portion of the gear 187 engages a gear (not shown) carried by the roller 214. The opposite end of the roller 214 carries another gear 231 shown in FIG- URE 6. The gear 231 drives a gear 232 carried by the roller 211) through an intermediate gear 233 which is rotatably mounted to the side wall 201. The gear 231 also drives a gear 235 carried by the guide roller 223 through a pair of idle gears 2313 mounted on the side wall 201.

The overlapped forms are fed and stacked by the conveyor belts 221 at the same rate as the forms are fed by the sheet feed system D and the cylinders 13 and 14.

'13 Therefore, there is no tendency for the sheets to pile up in the conveyor system E.

The apparatus described above has a great many different applications in business systems. The apparatus, for example, can be used in connection with order and billing operations. By way of illustration, assume that in response to an order received, it is desired to acknowledge the order, make multiple copies of the entire order or parts thereof, bill the customer and set up a procedure for checking after a predetermined period of time whether the bill has been paid by the customer and, if not, send a follow up bill to him. This procedure can be carried out by recording the information regarding the customers order, for example, his name, address, the goods ordered, purchase price, etc. on a master form, preferably in the form of a web backed against a hectographic carbon, as described above. Each order is recorded on a separate form of the web. The Web of master forms is then run through the machine to duplicate on a web of copy forms the name and address of the customer (and other information regarding the order, if desired) on an order acknowledgment form which can be placed in a window-type envelope and mailed to the customer thanking him for the order. Any information on the master form to be omitted on the acknowledgement form can be obscured by initially printing darkened areas on the copy form, such as the darkened area g and h described above in connection with FIG- URE 11. The web of masters can then be run through the machine as many times as there are copies of the entire order or parts thereof to be made. When the orders have been filled, the master can be run through the machine to duplicate all or part of the information on billing forms which are sent to the customers. The maste-r forms can be separated and filed, for example, accord ing to a code number or in alphabetical order. When the bill has been paid, the master form can be segregated from the master forms pertaining to customers who have not paid, and the segregated forms can be used as records for future reference or customer contacts. The master forms identifying customers who have not paid their bills can, after a period of time has elapsed, be placed in the hopper of the sheet fed machine, and the desired information duplicated on reminder forms which are sent to the customers.

The above method is illustrative of but one of sundry possible applications of the apparatus of the present invention, and many other time saving applications will be apparent to those persons confronted with difiicult or time consuming business operations which can be simplified by use of the present invention.

The invention has shown and described in preferred forms and by way of example only, and many modifications and variations can be made thereon within the spirit of the invention. The invention, therefore, should not be limited to any specified form or embodiment, but should be viewed as covering the subject matter defined in the claims and equivalents thereof.

I claim:

1. A duplicating apparatus in which information recorded in mirror image impressions on a plurality of master forms having perforations therein along both edges is duplicated on blank forms also having perforations therein along both edges, at least the blank forms being connected in web form and separated by weakened lines, comprising a pair of continuously rotating cylinders in tangential relationship, pin means carried by one of said cylinders and engageable with the perforations in said web of blank forms, for positively feeding blank forms seriatim between the cylinders, means defining recesses between the pin means carried by the cylinder, a magazine for storing the master forms in a desired sequence, pin means carried by the other of said cylinders and engageable with the perforations in said master forms, for positively feeding the master forms seriatim from the magazine to the printing cylinders in desired registration with the blank forms, means driving said cylinders in synchronism with the pin means in offset relation so that the pin means will engage the recesses rather than each other as they pass the line of tangency between the cylinders, solvent applying means adjacent one of said cylinders above the line of tangency therebetween for applying solvent to the blank forms, said solvent activating the mirror image impressions on the master form to duplicate the information in positive image on the faces of the blank forms receiving the solvent, means for stacking the master forms in their original sequence, web burster means advancing the leading duplicate form in the web faster than the trailing duplicate form to separate them without producing slack in the web of continuously fed forms, and means for stacking the duplicated forms in the same sequence that they were duplicated from the master forms.

2. A duplicating apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which the master forms are connected in web form connected by weakened lines and folded in accordion fashion in said magazine and in which said means for stacking the master forms includes a magazine for receiving the master forms folded in accordion fashion in the same sequence as their original sequence, and a downwardly sloped surface for guiding the web by gravity from the cylinders to the receiving magazine.

3. A duplicating apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which the master forms are stored in the said magazine in stacked relationship and including a reciprocating suction feeder engageable with the bottom master form in the stack and advancing it from the stack toward the pair of cylinders in timed relation to the pin means of the cylinder to which the master forms are fed and advanced in edge-to-edge relationship, a control valve carried by the suction head for controlling the suction thereto, and activating means for the control valve including a pair of relatively movable members which remain in operative relationship throughout the reciprocatory motion of the suction head, one of said members being carried by the suction head and the other being supported independently of the suction head, the independently supported member activating the control valve through the member carried by the suction head during the reciprocatory motion of the suction head.

4. A duplicating apparatus as set forth in claim 3 including a plurality of suction feeders each equipped with a control valve, and means connecting all of said control valves with said member carried by the suction heads.

5. A duplicating apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which the master forms are handled separately in the apparatus and including sheet feeding means for advancing a master form in timed relation to the pin means of the cylinder to which the master forms are fed and advanced in edge-to-cdge relationship, rotatable means spaced apart the said sheet feeding means for engaging and lifting the trailing edge of a master form, and sheet feeding means for advancing a succeeding master form to bring the leading edge thereof beneath the raised trailing edge of the preceding master form and bring them into overlapping relation.

6. A duplicating apparatus as set forth in claim 5 including a station for receiving the master forms in stacked relationship, and means for feeding the Oven lapping forms to said station, whereby each succeeding form is stacked below the preceding form.

7. A duplicating apparatus comprising a pair of cylinders in tangential relationship, means for feeding a web of blank forms between said cylinders, said blank forms being connected by weakened lines, means for feeding master forms seriatum between said cylinders in registered contact with blank forms, solvent applying means in the path of travel of the web toward the cylinders for applying solvent to the blank forms, said solvent activating the information on the master form so that the information is duplicated on the blank form against which it is pressed, means for bursting the forms at the weakened lines, means for stacking the separate forms, a guide cylinder below the bite between said pair of cylinders, a pair of guides to direct the web from said pair of cylinders downwardly toward the lower periphery of said guide cylinder, guide means for deflecting the leading edge around the bottom of said guide cylinder, a pair of guides for guiding the web upward, a driven feed roll adjacent the upward path of said web between said guides but normally out of driving engagement therewith, a threading roll movable from a position out of engagement with the said web to a position which brings the web in frictional engagement with said driven feed roll, and guide means for deflecting the leading edge of the web from the upper ends of said pair of guides toward the bursting means.

8. A sheet handling apparatus for feeding individual master forms into printing registration with a web of blank forms to be printed from the master forms to produce a duplicate set comprising a pair of rotating tangential cylinders having pins spaced around the circumference thereof, means feeding the web of blank forms having spaced-apart perforations therein to the one cylinder, a hopper in which said master forms having spaced-apart perforations therein are stacked, a carriage carrying a suction head, means of imparting reciprocatory motion to said carriage, means for raising said suction head into gripping contact with said lowermost master form in the stack and to advance the master form during the advance of the carriage to deliver a perforated sheet to the pins of the rotating cylinder, a control valve carried by the carriage to establish and cut off communication between a suction source and the suction head and actuating means for said control valve including cooperating elements, one carried by the carriage and the other supported independently of the carriage, said elements being in sliding operative relationship throughout the reciprocation of the carriage so that they can operate to open the control valve in one position of the carriage and close it in another position of the carriage, the reciprocation of the carriage and the movement of the suction head being timed to the rotation of the cylinder so that the sheets are fed to the cylinder in edge-to-edge relationship, permitting the individually fed sheets to be registered with respect to a continuously fed web.

9. A sheet handling apparatus as set forth in claim 19 in which the element supported independently of the carriage is a rail supported for rocking motion on an axis parallel to the reciprocating motion of the carriage and the element carried by the carriage is operatively coupled to the rail in sliding relationship.

10. A sheet handling apparatus as set forth in claim 9 including means for rocking said rail, said means comprising a driven cam on an axis perpendicular to the rocking axis of the rail, a cam follower carried by the rail near the axis of the rail and adapted to be tilted by the high portion of the cam for rocking the rail in one direction, and spring means for rocking the rail in the opposite direction.

11. A sheet handling apparatus as set forth in claim 9 including a plurality of control valves and a rod connecting them in tandem with said element carried by the carriage.

12. A sheet handling apparatus as set forth in claim 8 in which the sheets have perforations at both edges and the suction head grips and then pulls down the leading edge of the lowermost sheet to be fed and including upstanding pins carried by the carriage to engage the perforations and prevent slippage between the sheet and the suction head.

13. A duplicating apparatus in which information recorded in mirror image impressions on a master form 16 is duplicated on a web of blank forms connected by folding lines comprising a magazine for storing said blank forms folded in accordion fashion, a pair of cylinders in tangential relationship, means for feeding said web of blank forms through said cylinders, means for feeding seriatim master forms between said cylinders and in registered contact with said blank forms, means for applying solvent to said blank forms which solvent activates the mirror image impressions so that the pressure exerted by the cylinders duplicates the information in positive image on the blank forms, the cylinder which the web of blank forms engages carrying pins at both ends for engaging perforations along the edges of the blank forms, and in which the outer surface of the cylinder is equipped with a resilient layer covered by an outer layer having a coefficient of friction with the surfaces of the blank forms, so that the pins of the cylinder and not the friction of the cylinder control the feed of the web, means for stacking the master forms in their original sequence, and means for stacking the blank forms in their original sequence.

14-. A duplicating apparatus in which information recorded in mirror image impressions on a master form is duplicated in a web of blank forms connected by folding lines comprising a magazine for storing said blank forms folded in accordion fashion, a pair of cylinders in tangential relationship, means for feeding said web of blank forms through said cylinders, means for feeding seriatim master forms between said cylinders and in registered contact with said blank forms, means for applying solvent to said blank forms which solvent activates the mirror image impressions so that the pressure exerted by the cylinders duplicates the information in positive image on the blank forms, means for stacking the master forms in their original sequence, means for stacking the blank forms in their original sequence, pins carried at both ends of the cylinder which the master forms engage for engaging perforations along the edges of the master forms, a hopper for storing a stack of master forms therein, guide means along which the master form is fed, the leading edge of the lowermost master form in the hopper extending above said guide means, suction means engageable with the lowermost master form in the hopper and advancing it along said guide means toward said cylinder, pins carried by the suction means and engaging the perforations in the master form to prevent slippage between the master form and the suction means, said suction means delivering the master form to the pins carried by the clyinder.

15. A duplicating apparatus in which information recorded in mirror image impressions on a master form is duplicated on a web of blank forms connected by folding lines and in which both the blank and master forms are perforated longitudinally comprising a magazine for storing said blank forms folded in accordion fashion, a magazine for storing a stack of master forms, a pair of cylinders in tangential relationship and carrying circumferential pins, means for guiding the web of blank forms to one of the cylinders, the pins of said cylinder engaging the perforations and carrying the blank webs in predetermined registration between the cylinders, means for feeding the master forms to the other of said cylinders, the pins of said cylinder engaging the perforations in the master forms, and carrying the master forms in predetermined registration between the cylinders, the master forms being fed to the respective cylinder in timed relation to the rotation of the cylinder so that the master forms are carried by the cylinder in edge-to-edge relationship for registry with the blank forms, means for applying a solvent to the blank forms, means for stacking the master forms in the order in which they were fed to the cylinders, means for separating the printed blank forms at their fold lines, means for stacking the printed blank forms in the same order as the master forms, and means for feeding the master forms one by one with respect to the cylinder and in timed relation thereto such that the master forms are picked up by the pins thereof and carried to the cylinder in edge-to-edge relationship.

16. A duplicating apparatus in which information recorded in mirror image impressions on a series of master forms is duplicated on a web of blank forms and in which the blank and master forms are perforated longitudinally, comprising a frame, a pair of cylinders rotatably mounted in said frame in tangential relationship, means for feeding the blank forms in a path over the top of one of said cylinders and then downwardly between the cylinders, means for feeding the master forms in substantially edge-to-edge relationship over the top of the other cylinder and. then downwardly between the cylinders for reproducing information from each master form on a corresponding blank form, said feeding means including registration pins movable in an orbital path and engaging said perforations in the master and blank forms for positively advancing the respective form to insure registration between the master and blank forms, separate guide means beneath the cylinders for guiding the master and duplicated forms along different paths, means for stacking the master forms in the order in which they were fed to the cylinders, means for separating the duplicated forms at their fold lines, means for stacking the duplicated forms in the same order as the master forms, a magazine for storing a web of master forms connected by weakened lines and folded in a stack in Zig-zag fashion, the web of master forms being fed to the respective cylinder by the movable pin feed means, and a sheet feeder detachably mounted to the frame for feeding in dividual forms one at a time to said pin drive means, said sheet feeder including sheet feed means synchronized with the respective movable pin drive means to feed said forms one at a time to said respective movable pin drive means to insure edge-to-edge feed of the individual master forms so that they can be registered with respect to individual blank forms of the web.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,657,595 1/1928 Swift 271-86 2,036,972 4/ 1936 Storck 118-260 2,251,221 7/ 1941 Cleven 278-87 2,340,819 2/1944 Mills n 101-1325 2,392,403 1/ 1946 Pechy 271-32 2,552,869 5/1951 Sauerman 101-52 2,572,450 10/1951 Grissy 101-132 2,587,843 3/ 1952 Harrison 270-52 2,692,553 10/1954 Metzner 101-1495 2,717,642 9/1955 Pealler 225-100 2,776,007 1/1957 Dietz et al 225-100 2,828,126 3/1958 Labombarde 271-32 2,853,298 9/1958 Faeber 271-87 2,875,689 3/1959 Wright 101-227 2,883,929 4/1959 Eichenbaum et al 101-1325 2,904,332 9/ 1959 Metzner 270-525 2,996,039 8/1961 Springer et a1 118-260 3,006,639 10/1961 Spalding et a1 271-68 EUGENE R. CAPOZIO, Primary Examiner. 

1. A DUPLICATING APPARATUS IN WHICH INFORMATION RECORDED IN MIRROW IMAGE IMPRESSIONS ON A PLURALITY OF MASTER FORMS HAVING PERFORATIONS THEREIN ALONG BOTH EDGES IS DUPLICATED ON BLANK FORMS ALSO HAVING PERFORATIONS THEREIN ALONG BOTH EDGES, AT LEAST THE BLANK FORMS BEING CONNECTED IN WEB FORM AND SEPARATED BY WEAKENED LINES, COMPRISING A PAIR OF CONTINOUSLY ROTATING CYLINDERS IN TANGENTIAL RELATIONSHIP, PIN MEANS CARRIED BY ONE OF SAID CYLINDERS AND ENGAGEABLE WITH THE PERFORATIONS IN SAID WEB OF BLANK FORMS, FOR POSITIVELY FEEDING BLANK FORMS SERIATIM BETWEEN THE CYLINDERS, MEANS DEFINING RECESSES BETWEEN THE PIN MEANS CARRIED BY THE CYLINDER, A MAGAZINE FOR STORING THE MASTER FORMS IN A DESIRED SEQUENCE, PIN MEANS CARRIED BY THE OTHER OF SAID CYLINDERS AND ENGAGEABLE WITH THE PERFORATIONS IN SAID MASTER FORMS, FOR POSITIVELY FEEDING THE MASTER FORMS SERIATIM FROM THE MAGAZINE TO THE PRINTING CYLINDERS IN DESIRED REGISTRATION WITH THE BLANK FORMS, MEANS DRIVING SAID CYLINDERS IN SYNCHRONISM WITH THE PIN MEANS IN OFFSET RELATION SO TAH T THE PIN MEANS WILL ENGAGE THE RECESSES RATHER THAN EACH OTHER AS THEY PASS THE LINE OF TANGENCY BETWEEN THE CYLINDERS, SOLVENT APPLYING MEANS ADJACENT ONE OF SAID CYLINDERS ABOVE THE LINE OF TANGENCY THEREBETWEEN FOR APPLYING SOLVENT TO THE BLANK FORMS, SAID SOLVENT ACTIVATING THE MIRROR IMAGE IMPRESSIONS ON THE MASTER FORM TO DUPLICATE THE INFORMATION IN POSITIVE IMAGE ON THE FACES OF THE BLANK FORMS RECEIVING THE SOLVENT, MEANS FOR STACKING THE MASTER FORMS IN THEIR ORIGINAL SEQUENCE, WEB BURSTER MEANS ADVANCING THE LEADING DUPLICATE FORM IN THE WEB FASTER THAN THE TRAILING DUPLICATE FORM TO SEPARATE THEM WITHOUT PRODUCING SLACK IN THE WEB OF CONTINUOUSLY FED FORMS, AND MEANS FOR STACKING THE DUPLICATED FORMS IN THE SAME SEQUENCE THAT THEY WERE DUPLICATED FROM THE MASTER FORMS. 